3g Wireless Demystified / Edition 1

by Lawrence J Harte

Overview

This is a semi-technical overview of the features and operation of third generation cellular and PCS systems. It offers an overview of the evolution of 3G cellular and PCS, describes the types of technology, design issues for handset and network systems, and provides a sense of future direction.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780071363013
Publisher:	McGraw-Hill Professional Publishing
Publication date:	08/27/2001
Series:	Demystified
Pages:	532
Product dimensions:	7.45(w) x 9.33(h) x 1.21(d)

About the Author

Lawrence Harte is the president of APDG, a provider of expert information to the telecommunications market. Mr. Harte has over 19 years of experience in the electronics industry including company leadership, product management, development, marketing, design, and testing of telecommunications (cellular), radar, and microwave systems. He has been issued patents relating to cellular technology and authored over 75 articles on related subjects. Mr. Harte earned his Bachelors degree from University of the State of New York and an MBA at Wake Forest University. During the IS-54 TDMA cellular standard development, Mr. Harte served as an editor for the Telecommunications Industries Association (TIA) TR45.3, the digital cellular standards committee.

Richard Levine is the founder and principal engineer of Beta Scientific Laboratory and is also Adjunct Professor of Electrical Engineering at Southern Methodist University. He is active as a technology consultant to many firms developing new cellular and PCS systems and products used in Brazil, Canada, England, France, Germany, Israel, Korea, Mexico, and the United States. He is also a well-known teacher of cellular and PCS technology to people in the industry. He was formerly the chairman of several working groups in the North American digital cellular standards development. Mr. Levine earned the Bachelor, Master and Doctor of Science degrees from M.I.T., is licensed as a Professional Engineer, and has earned both amateur and professional radio operator licenses. He has been issued several patents on telecommunications, computer systems, and related technologies.

Read an Excerpt

Chapter 10

3rd Generation Wireless Applications

Third generation wireless applications are software programs that require wireless communication technology that can take advantage of the mobility and highbit-rate data transmission offered by 3rd generation wireless systems. Many of the communications applications and services that were available for mobile communications in the 1990's were limited by low bit-rate (less than 10 kbps) data transmission. With 2nd generation mobile systems, it was not possible to offer streaming video, rapid image file transfer or high bit-rate data file transfer services.

The worldwide wireless communications market has grown from 190 million subscribers in 1996 to over 680 million by the end of the year 2000 [ 1 ] . The wireless market is expected to exceed one billion in 2003, approximately one phone for every seven people on earth! To sustain this high growth market trend and to persuade customers to upgrade to 3rd generation products and services, there must be new attractive and imaginative applications.

Third generation systems provide for two key advancements in mobile communication technology that allow for new advanced applications: packet data transmission and high bit-rate data services. Packet data transmission allows the wireless systems to transfer information only as the customer requires information transfer. This is compared to 2nd generation data transmission services that use a dedicated portion of a radio channel regardless of actual usage on the radio channel (amount of data transmission activity). Although the peak data transfer rate when a customer is browsing the web may be high, the average data transfer rate of the customer is low. Packet transmission allows a wireless service provider to cost-effectively provide service to many wireless data devices or customers. 3rd generation systems also allow high bit-rate data transmission (up to 2 Mb/s) that permits new services and applications such as video and high quality audio broadcast services. These services could not be provided on 1 st or 2nd generation systems.

There are hundreds of key applications that require high-bit rate data transfer ser- vices that can be provided via 3rd generation wireless service. These include distance learning, high graphic online commerce, video and audio entertainment, interactive advertising, news and other information services, advanced manufacturing processes, media production, remote security, public safety, tele-medicine, utility management, and alternative (bypass) communication systems. If these applications become readily available and the cost of providing these services is low, the demand for 3rd generation products and services will be high.

Customers do not care or need to know how the underlying 3G communication technologies function. They just care that technology works for whatever application they want to use, and the benefit of using the application is perceived to be higher than the cost to use its service.

Much of the demand for wireless data access has come from the combination of availability of Internet information applications and low cost mobile communication. The Internet's standardized global collection of interconnected computer networks has allowed for access to information sources that provide significant benefits to those companies and individuals looking for knowledge. The Internet has created an awareness (culture change) of many new information services, and these new information services themselves.

In the late 1990s, new, low-cost, high bit-rate connections to the Internet became available. The rapid market growth of digital subscriber line (DSL) and cable modem technology has stimulated the development of new applications that are only possible via broadband high bit-rate connections. In the early 21 st century, consumers are becoming aware of these new broadband multimedia applications and the transition back to low bit-rate information (text based) services is difficult.

Many consumers are already aware of benefits of wireless mobile service and are becoming aware of broadband applications. Potential 3rd generation customers may only need to be educated that these services can be delivered via rapid bit rate wireless data communication services to convert them from traditional wired (e.g., Internet access) to new wireless services. Of key importance for 3rd generation technologies are broadband applications that require mobility, low-cost installation or rapid deployment that competing wired broadband technologies cannot provide.

In 2001, the United States led the "information society" with over 100 million Internet and wireless users. In 1999, more than 33°Io of the households had online web access. [2]. Between 1997 and 2000, over 9°Io of household Internet customers (over 3 million customers) changed from narrowband to broadband access service providers (DSL and cable modem). The wireless Internet is in transition from point-to-point text based short messaging service (SMS) and digital audio broadcasting service to high-bandwidth wireless applications, such as audio and video streaming.

Distance Learning

Distance learning is a way to receive education or training at remote locations. Distance learning has been available for many years and can be categorized into public education (grades K-12), university and colleges, professional (industry), government, and military segments. In the early years, distance learning was provided through the use of books and other printed materials and was commonly referred to as a correspondence course.

Distance learning has evolved through the use of broadcast media (e.g., television) and moved onto individual or small group training through video-based training (VBT) or computer-based training (CBT). These systems have developed into interactive distance learning (IDL) as the computer allowed changes in the training.

Distance learning relies on communication systems (e.g., phone lines or mail) to connect students and teacher as an alternative to classroom training. Electronic learning (eLearning) is a form of distance learning that is becoming a viable alternative to traditional teaching methods and is poised for major growth over the next several years.

Through the use of broadband video and interactive graphic technologies, students are exposed to a far greater education stimulus than in the traditional learning environment. Integrated sound, motion, image, and text will all serve to create a rich new learning atmosphere and substantially increase student involvement in the learning process.

The rapidly changing global economy is forcing industry professionals to continually update their skills. Adults are now changing their occupations several times in a lifetime as technologies and skills become outdated. This requires continual learning for adults. Adults between the age of 35-45 are the fastest growing group of college learners [3]. To advance or consolidate their careers, over five million adults complete some form of distance learning each year [4]. This is one of the primary reasons why online learning is booming, especially among working adults with children. Distance learning via broadband connectivity allows adults to "attend" classes in the comfort of their living room or study, at their convenience.

Many of the online universities including training and professional specialty course programs, are catering to the rising demand from industry to deliver skilldevelopment courses to the desktop at remote locations. These schools are offering Web-based professional certificates as well as associate and bachelor's degrees that are built around a solid core of business and computer classes. Companies rely on these certificates to ensure that employees are qualified for their new jobs.

In 1999, most online classes did not require that students have the latest high powered computer. However, they did require Internet access (via low bit rate analog modem). These distance learning courses were provided using low-resolution graphics or slow scan web video. As broadband services become more available and cost effective, it is predicted that distance learning courses will evolve to use high-resolution services such as high-resolution video conferencing [5]. Online distance learning courses can be accredited by regional accrediting agencies or via the Distance Education and Training Council.....

Table of Contents

Foreword Preface Chapter 1: Introduction to Mobile Wireless Chapter 2: First Generation Analog Cellular Chapter 3: Digital Cellular Radio Technology Chapter 4: GPRS and Edge (2.5 Generation) Chapter 5: Code Division Multiple Access 2000 (CDMA2000) Chapter 6: Wideband CDMA (WCDMA) Chapter 7: Wireless Telephones Chapter 8: Wireless Networks Chapter 9: Wireless Economics Chapter 10: 3rd Generation Wireless Applications Appendix: Acronyms and Abbreviations Index

Foreword

Foreword

At the beginning of 2001, almost 1 person in 7 worldwide had a wireless phone. To connect people and improve the overall quality of life, new third generation wireless systems have been developed that offer new multimedia capabilities, better reliability, improved battery life, and efficient and more cost-effective solutions.

Since the first second generation mobile telephones were introduced into the marketplace in 1991, the demand for digital mobile telephones and service continues to grow at over 40% per year. At the end of 2000, there were more than 680 million mobile subscribers throughout the world. Third generation systems will rapidly replace second generation systems as second generation digital mobile telephone systems have rapidly replaced first generation analog systems.

Third generation (3G) wireless systems are an evolution of second generation wireless technologies, and they will use much of the existing second generation infrastructure and radio systems. 3G systems will become the leading communication technology because they provide more cost effective solutions and new broadband multimedia services. In comparison to second generation systems, 3G systems available in 2001 allow for a 70%o increase in network capacity while reducing the cell sites needed by over 30%.

The main issues for both users and operators will be capacity and security. Revenue from radio airtime usage is declining. To increase the value of a customer to a wireless operator, new services can be offered that will increase airtime usage, and content delivery and advertising revenues will supplement basic service revenues. Creative mobile operators offer thousands of services through Internet hypermarketing that will prompt greater wireless usage.

Third generation systems were designed for secure, efficient interconnection with the Internet. By designing the network to take advantage of Internet Protocol (IP), third generation networks provide cost savings for system operators and end users. Third generation systems are less complex networks with fewer nodes, with a single core network that allows standard Internet-based software applications such as email and web browsing.

The twenty-first century will see new lifestyles that are enabled by the advanced capabilities of digital wireless communication. Third generation systems offer the potential for many new content-based services to take advantage of efficient high-speed data services that can reach up to 2 Mbps. The key applications can be classified as person-to-person communications, mobile entertainment, wireless advertising, mobile transactions, location-based services, mobile information, and business solutions. By focusing on these key applications and establishing partnerships with content providers, operators will be able to increase profits and customers will improve their lifestyle.

Industry standards are necessary to allow common technology to be shared among many manufacturers. Hundreds of manufacturers, carriers, and associations have participated in the development of third generation industry standards. In an unprecedented move by the different national standards committees, a harmonization effort produced a single source of third generation standards. The third generation partnership program (3GPP) was composed of national standards committees that balanced their individual country's interests with the global needs of the third generation systems. These groups worked together to create the specification for the third generation universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS).

This book arrives at a fortunate time for the wireless industry. The amount of new technology, human resources, and capital that will be invested in third generation wireless technology is huge. While second generation digital wireless technology has been successful, to sustain the rapid growth and maintain a competitive advantage, new third generation capabilities are essential for new emerging markets. A balanced understanding between market needs and technology availability is required to achieve success. This book describes the new services and technologies third generation digital systems can provide along with the financial considerations for its deployment.